Rainbow Collective Thunder Bay has announced that President and Co-Founder Jason Veltri is retiring at the end of the summer.

Veltri got involved in community organizing and the Pride movement in October 2018 as Chair of the Thunder Pride Association and has played a big role in championing the rights and visibility of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities in Thunder Bay.

“Jason Veltri has been a beacon of leadership and resilience within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community,” said the Treasurer of Rainbow Collective Donna Nagy. “His dedication to promoting equality and protecting the rights of marginalized individuals has been unwavering, even in the face of adversity.”

Alongside fellow human rights defenders at Thunder Pride, under the leadership of Scotia Kauppi, Veltri has worked to create a space where all members of the community feel welcomed and celebrated.

The Rainbow Collective’s Board will be making announcements in the future about opportunities to join its mission, and to continue Veltri’s work, building upon his legacy.

Veltri penned a letter to the community that can be found below: